Key-sharp and process of making same.



Nn. 683,956. Patented out. a, 190|.

' J. M. Loose.

KEY SHARP AND PROCESS 0F MAKING SAME.

(Application med Nov. 80, 1900.) (lo lodei.) 2 Sheets-Shut l;

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Patented 0st. 8, |90I. J. M. LUUSE. KEY SHARP AND PROC-ESS UFIAKING SAIE.

(Application Bled Nov. 30, 1900.)

2 Shoots-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. LOOSE, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

KEY-SHARP AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,956, dated October 8, 1901.

Application filed November 30, 1900. Serial Nn-4 38,l87. (No model.)

To all who/'1t it 11mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. LOOSE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at McDougall Square, in the city of Toronto, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Sharps and the Process of Making the Same; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Heretofore in the manufacture of piano and organ keyboards it has been customary to make the key-Sharps of ebony or ebonized wood the top or finger surface of which has been polished to not only enhance the appearance of the keyboard, but also to facilitate the rapidity of the touch of the performer. Continued use wears off this polished surface, and the key-Sharps then not only lose their finish but also acquire a tendency to adhere to the fingers of the performer,which adhesion is particularly noticeable and annoying iu the execution of quick passages of music.

To construct a keyboard in a practical and commercial manner in which not only the top, but also the sides and front and back, of the key-sharp will be highly polished and will retain the polish during the life of the instrument is the object of the present invention, and this object is attained by mak ing the body of the key-sharp of some comparatively inexpensive and rigid substancesuch as wood, pulp, or other suitable material formed to the requisite shape and sizeand then covering this rigid body with celluloid or other similar fibrous material capable of receiving and retaining a high polish.

In carrying out the object of this invention the Celluloid or fibrous blanks for the casing are cut to the required size and shape, and to the back of these blanks is applied a coating of cement, after which they are rendered plastic and impressed into the mold by the body of the key-sharp, which acts as a former for the blank and to which the blank adheres when formed not only as a result of the adhesion of the cement, but also as a result of its new conformation, as hereinafter more fully set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective View of the apparatus employed in carrying out the process. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the molds and body for the key-sharp, showing in dotted lines the Celluloid or fibrous blank. Fig. 3 is a modification of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the key-sharp in its finished state.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

a represent-s the bed of the apparatus, provided with a heating chamber or chambers b. Extending upwardly from the middle of each end of the bed a is a standard c, the upper ends of which rigidly support a cross-beam d. The middle of the cross-beam d is provided with a hub e, through the bore of which vertically moves a compressor-screw f. Connected to the upper end of the screwf is a hand-wheel g, and connected to the lower end is a follower h, corresponding in size and shape with the top of the bed d. Bolted to the top of the bed ct at the back of the same is the iiange t' of a standard j, and integrally formed with the top of the standardjis aforwardly-projecting plate 7a, fitted with a series of transverse slot-s l. Depending from the under side of the follower 7L are a series of vertical plungers m, corresponding in number and location with the slots l and moving vertically through the same. Connected to the under side of the plate 7c are a series of spring-holders o, each consisting of two depending jaws pp', located at the opposite sides of the slots Z and converging toward the lower ends. The top of the bed a is provided with a series of transverse grooves q, located vertically below the slots Z, and projecting upwardly from the top of the bed dare a series of ribs r, parallel with and intermediate the grooves q. Adapted to be contained in the grooves q are molds s, the shape of the matrix of each of which corresponds to the shape of the finished key-sharp. One end of the matrix is provided with a movable follower s, operated by a pressure-screw to press the Celluloid blank against the end of the body of the keyesharp to complete the formation of the casing after the said body and blank are pressed into the mold. Contained in the chambers b are heaters t for the purpose of heating the apparatus to rcndcr plastic the IOO celluloid or librous blanks. Connected tothe back of the beam d is a guide '0, and connected to the follower h is a standard w, the purpose of the guide and standard being to prevent any side or end movement on the part of the follower when being raised or lowered. The front of the bed a is provided with a shelf y, the top surface of which is in alinement with the bottom of the grooves q. Extending along the back of the grooves q is a top or gage a3 to determine the position of the molds and blanks.

In carrying out the process a mold s is used havinga highly-polished matrix corresponding in shape'and size with the shape and size of the key-sharp, and this mold is placed in one of the grooves q, the top edge or surface of which is substantially in the same plane as the top of the bed ct to provide a rest or support for the Celluloid blank, the follower being opened to its full capacity to readily receive lthe blank and body for the key-sharp. The body a of the key-sharp is placed in the holder o, and a Celluloid or fibrous blank a", the back of which has previously been covered with cement, is placed face downward' on lthe top of the bed a or mold and is prevented from lateral displacement by the ribs r. lfVhen the heat has rendered the blank a thoroughly plastic, the compressing-screw is turned to lower the follower h and plunger, which lowering movement of the plunger displaces the body ct oi' the key-sharp from the holder o and impresses it with the celluloid or fibrous blank into the matrix of the mold s. The body a/ of the key-sharp being of the same shape as the matrix forms the blank into a casing of a shape corresponding to its own shape or that of the matrix. /Vhen the blank has been formed into a casing for the body of the key-sharp, the pressure of the plunger is released and the plunger returned toits normal position, after which the mold, with the key-sharp, is removed from the apparatus and allowed to cool, so that when the Celluloid or fibrous casing is hardened the key-sharp may be removed from the mold and finished. The Celluloid or fibrous casing not only takes a high polish, but it also retains it, and thus enables the keyboard to not Vonly enhance the appearance and value of the instrument when completed, but to retain its finish during the life ot' the instrument. The key-sharp by retaining its polish `enables the performer to strike the keys rapidly and easily and much more so lthan if the sur-face of the key-Sharps were unpolished or In operating the appara-v tus a series of key-Sharps are simultaneously formed, Corresponding in number to the cahad a dull finish.

p'acity of the apparatus, which in this case is six.

parts of an apparatus which it is necessary to employ is a mold and a means for com- In carrying out the process the onlyI the mold is illustrated and consists of a Ina-- trix the top of which is surrounded bya flattened surface to form a rest or support for the blank vwhile being rendered plastic. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the bed is shown Y to be provided with flattened surfaces between the ribs r and grooves q to form a rest or support for the `Celluloid blanks. These flattened surfaces perform the same functions as the iiattened surfaces surrounding the matrix of the mold. (Shown in Fig. 3a.)

I have shown and described in the drawings and speciiication a specific style of apparatus; but it is not my'intention to confine myself either to the one shown and described or to any other particularstyle ot' apparatus, as I may employ any construction suitable for the purpose of carrying out the process.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to sec-ure by Letters Patent, is

l. The herein-described process of making key-Sharps which consists of forming the body of the key-sharp of a rigid substance of substantially the required size and shape, applying .an adhesive to one side of a celluloid blank then heating the Celluloid blank until it is thoroughly plastic, then placing the body of the key-sharp in Contact with the side of the blank covered with the adhesive, placing the whole under pressure un-til the celluloid blank conforms closely about the sides and ends of the said bodysubstantially as specified.

2. The herein-described process of making key-Sharps which consists of forming the body of the key-sharp of substantially the required shape and size then rendering plastic by heat a Celluloid blank and applying to one sideof the Celluloid blank while in its plastic condition the said body, then placing the whole under pressure while still subjected to the heat until the celluloid blanks conform closely about the sides and ends of the said body and `then restoring the key-sharp to its vnormal teniperature substantially as specied.

A key-sharp embracing in its construction a solid body and a celluloid casi-ng for the face, sides and end of the key-sharp made from one continuous sheet of celluloid rendered plastic by subjection to heat and caused to conform closely to the said body when in its plastic state, substantially as specified.

Signed at Toronto, November 2l, 1900.

JOS. M. LOOSE.

In presence of-` J. E. CAMERON, W. ARMS.

ICO 

